SoylentGreenIsPeople91

A thought provoking and interesting documentary about one of the most popular- and controversial- genres of music around today. Discussing topics like religion and sexuality in the world of metal, this features some fascinating interviews with pretty much everyone from Geddy Lee to George Fisher. for those unfamiliar with the genre, or those who consider it "pointless noise", this should hopefully open a few eyes. The director, Sam Dunn, a self confessed headbanger himself, has clearly researched his topic greatly, and whilst the "geneology chart" may need a few tweaks (last time I checked, Cradle of Filth were English, not Norwegian), the footage and interviews provided more than compensate. It addresses the musics critics head on, whilst also providing us with some very funny stories from the lives of its subjects. The interview with Dee Snider about the PMRC is particularly hilarious. And best of all, it has a killer soundtrack.

We've seen it all before. A blue collar father, and relatively normal mother, a geeky son and a slutty daughter. how clever. how fresh. about ten years ago. Now, it seems stale and overused. when I see the opening credits of each episode and it says "created by Rob Lotterstein", I can't help but think "yeah, and also by Matt Groening (The Simpsons), Seth McFarlane (Familt Guy), Ron Leavitt (Married with Children), Matt Williams (Roseanne)"... the list goes on. Of course, this should not prove a problem if the programme if funny and well written, but it is neither. It is just not, as a whole, funny, and the themes I have seen (race tension, cosmetic surgery, drugs) are done to death so it feels like you are just watching a rerun of a show that has already been made, but better. Now, it does feature some good acting, I'll say that much (particularly from Michael Rapaport), and the "talking head" thing can be pretty funny, but it does not really help to apologize for the negative points listed above. All in all, it would have been considered fresh and clever ten or fifteen years ago, but not now.